2026 GMC Sierra EV AT4 First Drive Review: Compelling But Compromised

Even with the electrical pickup truck phase rising shortly, the variety of overtly off-road-oriented variants is a bit restricted. Rivian’s R1T and GMC’s Hummer EV are the principle choices, and the Rivian is a little bit small, and the Hummer is extra of a halo product. Meaning a distinct segment exists for a extra mainstream full-size off-roader, and that is the place the GMC Sierra EV AT4 is available in.

Not like the Hummer EV, the Sierra EV AT4 is designed to be a extra pragmatic off-road pickup. It affords further all-terrain functionality over the remainder of the vary, however would not go all-out with fancy suspension and different options. Meaning a extra approachable price ticket. It additionally will get the massive battery packs and vary of the opposite Sierra EVs to make it usable for lengthy journeys and towing. To learn the way the adjustments have an effect on the best way the truck drives each on- and off-road, we spent a day in southern Michigan on highways and in fields.

First Drive occasions present our preliminary impressions of a car in a restricted atmosphere below sure time constraints. Regulate DrivingOnRoad for our complete Take a look at Drive overview which is able to observe quickly.

What Is It?

The AT4 is essentially the most off-road-capable model of the GMC Sierra EV, and is new for this yr. It options a variety of purposeful and aesthetic adjustments to make it each look extra rugged and be extra succesful on tough terrain. Visually, it has a singular entrance fascia, vivid purple restoration hooks, an illuminated entrance badge, and darkish trim. The truck has a two-inch raise over the bottom Sierra EV, 35-inch all-terrain tires, further skid plates, four-wheel steering with Crab Stroll, and a singular Terrain drive mode designed for low-speed off-roading. It additionally comes with just a few additional niceties as customary to complement its premium price ticket, and it is obtainable solely with both the extended-range or maximum-range battery packs.

Design: Elegant Functionality

Of GM’s electrical pickup vans, the Sierra EV is definitely essentially the most restrained. It has a traditional truck profile with a vertical rear window resulting in the horizontal truck mattress sides. It is neither as broad-shouldered and brash because the Hummer EV, nor as cab-forward and futuristic because the Silverado EV. Its monumental daytime operating lights look extra like conventional headlights, and you will not discover any body-spanning mild bars (although the AT4 will get an illuminated entrance badge). So long as you do not flip it on, you could possibly most likely persuade somebody it was simply the next-generation gas-powered Sierra, and we suspect there are many patrons that would really like having a extra discreet-looking electrical truck. Simply have a look at all of the people who have already purchased F-150 Lightnings.

The AT4, along with the light-up badge, will get a bunch of exterior adjustments to distinguish it. The entrance fasica has a giant black panel encompassing the fake grille and headlights. It permits the brilliant purple tow hooks actually pop, they usually’re highlighted by the silver trim that surrounds them and the aforementioned fake grille. It has distinctive 18-inch wheels with all-terrain 35-inch tires which might be excellent for the car. GMC’s signature amber fender lights seem, too, and are simply as neat as ever.

The Sierra EV AT4 additionally will get the identical obtainable exterior options as different trims and the Silverado EV. The Midgate and MultiPro tailgate are choices, they usually provide a tremendous quantity of cargo flexibility. As customary, there are energy shops that may provide as much as 7.2 kW of off-board energy. That may be upgraded to 10.2 kW.

Inside: Merely Subtle

Whereas the outside of the AT4 is pretty straightforward to tell apart from different Sierra EVs, the inside is much less so. That is not a nasty factor, although, because the Sierra EV has a clear, refined design. It is all easy, straight traces, however with good beveled edges. Virtually each floor is roofed in leather-based or leatherette, a lot of it perforated with completely different sizes of perforation alternating for visible curiosity. The low sprint additionally helps present a way of airiness within the cabin, particularly with the obtainable panoramic sunroof that our tester had. It is value mentioning that, whereas closely tinted, the panoramic roof would not have some other sunshade.

Being an infinite full-size pickup, house is copious in each passenger place. The rear seats are particularly spectacular, placing many luxurious sedans to disgrace for the quantity of house. The AT4 additionally options power-adjustable entrance seats with reminiscence, heating and air flow, plus rear outboard seats with warmth. It is only a disgrace that the seats themselves aren’t essentially the most comfy. They’re fairly flat, each entrance and rear, they usually aren’t particularly gentle both.

Infotainment: It is Lacking Simply One Factor

Dominating the middle of the dashboard is a 16.8-inch infotainment touchscreen mounted vertically. It suits in properly with the remainder of the minimalist inside, and the chrome {surround} helps it mix in, reasonably than trying merely caught on like an afterthought. It is as vivid, crisp, and responsive as some other GM display screen, and it affords giant, easy-to-tap icons. The customizable shortcut bar on the prime of the display screen can be helpful. We’re massively grateful for the bodily toggle switches on the backside for local weather adjustment and huge quantity knob.

Forward of the motive force is a smaller, landscape-oriented display screen for devices, and it is also typically straightforward to learn and has a number of show configurations. The AT4 additional features a 14-inch head-up show. It might be among the many greatest infotainment programs obtainable if not for one factor: it nonetheless would not have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Powertrain & Driving: A Sierra EV With Mountaineering Boots

The AT4 represents one of many highest-level trims for the electrical pickup truck, and it comes with a powertrain to match. It has twin electrical motors powering all 4 wheels, and these motors are a few of the strongest obtainable. The Prolonged Vary powertrain and battery pack collectively makes 625 horsepower, and the Most Vary makes 725hp, whereas each have the identical 775 pound-feet of torque. Solely the Denali tops it at 760 hp, and the AT4 is considerably stronger than the 570-horsepower base Hummer EV 2X.

We drove the Most Vary mannequin and its energy makes the AT4 really feel fairly easy when cruising round city, and nearly startling when going for a decent passing alternative. GM’s spectacular electrical throttle calibration can be on show. Even with essentially the most aggressive acceleration and regenerative braking settings engaged, it is simple to be clean when making use of energy. It by no means feels jumpy. We count on that the Prolonged Vary model would most likely really feel mainly the identical, since though it has rather less energy, it additionally carries fewer battery cells, so it weighs much less general.

Whereas the powertrain excels, the journey and dealing with are extra blended. The lifted suspension, which makes use of mounted coil springs and shocks, is surprisingly stiff. This has its good factors. Physique roll is pretty restricted on pavement, for instance. It must also allow you to carry only a bit extra pace off-road with out bottoming out on minor obstacles. It isn’t fairly as compliant over bumps as different Sierra EV trims, although, and off-road it may well knock you round a good bit except you are going fairly slowly. In some methods, it is a little bit unlucky that it would not have adjustable shocks, not to mention the air suspension on the Hummer EV. The stiff chassis is nice, although. You will by no means encounter any of the shimmies and wiggles of typical body-on-frame vans going over bumps, nor any flexing within the physique on little hills and piles in fields and fireplace trails.

The tires are one other trade-off. A truck meant for frequent grime journeys definitely wants extra facet profile and tread like these outfitted as customary, however they do add a little bit of noise. The AT4 continues to be very quiet, however you do catch hints of tire hum on the highway, plus the tires appear to amplify the sounds of pavement imperfections. Improved off-road grip additionally sacrifices on-road grip. Flip-in is sort of gentle and, whereas the Sierra EV isn’t any sports activities automotive to start with, the diminished grip means needing to take a little bit additional care earlier than hustling up or down a decent freeway ramp. It is a bit of a disgrace just because the dearth of physique roll, and steering that truly has a little bit of suggestions, implies that it could possibly be pretty enjoyable on the road if it had extra grip.

No less than low-speed maneuverability continues to be very good because of the four-wheel steering. It genuinely makes this full-size truck really feel half its measurement, whether or not snaking between timber or a decent car parking zone – not less than till you end up making an attempt to see over the sky-high nostril. Happily, the AT4 additionally has entrance, rear and surround-view cameras to assist in these conditions, although it might be good in the event that they had been higher-resolution.

We must always speak in regards to the AT4’s different off-road improve: the Terrain mode. It isn’t provided on different Sierra EVs, and it does appear that it might make a distinction over more durable obstacles. It softens the throttle to make it simpler to use small quantities of energy, it permits for extra tire slip, and it will increase the quantity of bodily brake intervention. This final half is to assist maintain the car extra securely in some conditions, and it additionally makes use of these brakes extra to shift energy back and forth in different conditions. Sadly, we had been on comparatively well-maintained grime trails and fields, so we had been by no means in a state of affairs that basically wanted Terrain mode.

Verdict & Pricing: Regardless of Tough Edges, It is Sturdy Worth

The beginning worth for the Sierra EV AT4 is $79,300, or $81,395 with the $2,095 vacation spot cost included. That is for the mannequin with the Prolonged Vary battery, and so long as you do not actually add any choices, it is simply reasonably priced sufficient to qualify for the total federal EV tax credit score, whether or not you are shopping for or leasing. So it may well successfully be had for $71,800 (or $73,895 all-in). Choosing the Max Vary model brings the value as much as $89,600 ($91,695 with vacation spot).

This pricing places it in shut rivalry with the Rivian R1T Twin Motor, however the Rivian is considerably smaller in general measurement and cargo capability. It additionally would not fairly match the GMC’s towing and payload capability, though it is not terribly far off. The following closest competitor would most likely be the bottom 2X trim of GMC’s personal Hummer EV. However even in contrast with the Max Vary AT4, the Hummer EV 2X is round $7,000 extra. It has further options, resembling adjustable air suspension and detachable roof panels, however has much less energy and vary as customary. There are non-obligatory off-road goodies for it, too, resembling locking differentials, however that simply widens the value hole.

The GMC Sierra EV AT4 is not essentially the most well-rounded model of the electrical truck line. Not that it must be, however off-roaders have come a great distance in the previous few many years, and on the worth, we have come to count on nearly no compromises. Nonetheless, what compromises it does have, are removed from dealbreakers, and they’re in service of constructing it higher off highway. Even with worth tags pushing $90,000, the GMC additionally affords spectacular worth. It has a properly appointed cabin, tons of cargo-hauling functionality, and astonishing vary and energy. So, not less than till different automakers launch some extra competitors within the house, it is exhausting to argue with the package deal that GMC has put collectively.